Ordnance



Feb. 6, 1945. E. w. BRANDT ORDNANC E 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1940 Feb; 6, 1945. E. w. BRANDT ORDNANCE Filed Dec. .12, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ImImImw Feb. 6, 1945.

E. W. BRANDT ORDNANCE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filad Dec. 12, 1940 Feb. 6, 1945. E w, BRANDT 2,368,966

ORDNANCE Filed Dec. 12, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Elma/14M Feb. 6, 1945- E. w. BRANDT ,9

ORDNANCE Filed Dec. 12, 1940 e Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 6, 1945 EJNHTED STATE FAT ENT OFFICE ORDN AN CE Application December 12, 1940, Serial No. 369,892 In France December 29, 1939 7 Claims.

The object of the present invention is improvement in ordnance of the type comprising a gun the breech of which, in the firing position, rests on a base plate positioned on the ground and the chase of which rests on a two legged mounting, provided with aiming mechanism for elevation and direction.

Ordnance of this kind includes, in particular,

mortars, known as trench-mortars or infantryaccompanying mortars. These are usually designed in such a way that they can be disassembled into a number of loads and carried on mens shoulders.

The development of mechanisation has led, however, to the idea of mounting these engines of war on wheels and hauling them by means of tractors being contemplated.

The idea of mortars of the above mentioned type, mounted on a set of wheels, and capable of being put into action either on wheels or on a two-legged stand after removal of the wheels has already been suggested in the past. In the first case, the wheels interfered with the loading which must be made through the muzzle of the gun. In the second case, the separation of the two-legged stand from the axle takes some time. Now, it is often necessary, during an engagement, to change the position of a battery rapidly in order to frus-. trate the adversarys action.

The war material according to the invention has been designed, precisely, with a view to permitting a very rapid transition from the firing position to the transportation position, and viceversa.

It is remarkable, in particular, owing to the fact that each leg of the mounting is secured by an opening collar to a link articulated to an arm integral with the axle, a bolt being provided to secure the link in position when folded back along said arm for transportation purposes.

When it is desired to bring the weapon into action on the legs of the mounting, the bolt is released which makes it possible, by causing the swivelling of the link, to disengage the gun from the set of wheels and to put it in position behind the latter. In this way, the serving of the weapon is not interfered with by the wheels. Nevertheless, the gun remains connected to the set-of wheels by the link so that it. can be shifted over immediately to the transportation position and move away at once, for it is not necessary to unco-uple the tractor in order to place the gun in the firing position.

Another feature of the invention lies in the at its front end with a collar borne by tie rods articulated on the axle, said collar carrying a muzzle-cover which is kept applied to the gun by a spring, while the breech bears, at the rear, against the edge of a cradle clamped to the axle and on which the gun rests.

This arrangement ensures perfect immobilisetion of the gun in a longitudinal direction.

Haulage is effected through a ring fixed to the collar integral with the draw-bars. The effort is therefore transmitted direct to the axle without passing through the material.

According to another peculiarity of the invention, the cradle assumes the general form of an X the two lower branches of which are anchored to the axle and the upper branches of which, turned towards the rear, serve as a support for the base plate, the third supporting point of which is constituted by the breech of the gun locked into a socket of the plate.

The construction thus obtained offers great rigidity.

A collar serves to secure the gun to the cradle. According to the invention, said collar is connected to the base plate by a spring hook which engages with the plate in order to keep it applied against the upper branches of the X during transportation. When the collar is opened to place the gun in its firing position, the base plate is therefore released at the same time, which accelerates the operation.

The set of wheels and its accessories, collars, links etc., is contrived so as to be capable of being adapted to existing mortars with a view to ensuring their transport on wheels. The connection between the two-legged stand and the weapon is-designed in such amanner as to permit, indifferently, of putting the gun into action either on wheels, or on the two-legged mounting, said mounting remaining attached to the links or no according to circumstances.

Other advantages and peculiarities of the invention will appear in the description about to follow.

fact that, during transportation, the gun engages In the attached drawings, given merely as an example, I

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of ordnance matriel according to the invention in the firing position; U V

Figures 2 to 4 are diagrams respectively show ing the matriel in the transportation position, in the firing position while connected to the wheeled transport device (Fig. 2), and finally, completely separated from the latter. (Fig. 4);

Figures 5, Sand 7 are, respectively, a side view,

a vertical section through the axis of the axle, and a plan view of the materiel in the transportation position.

Fig. sis a view in perspective of the device for fixing the legs of the mounting onto the axle;

Fig. 9 is an axial section of the end of the barrel showing the. mounting of the latter in the.

towing collar;

Fig. 10 is a section according to 12-) (Fig. 11)

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the fixing device of one of the legs of the mounting on the axle;

Fig. 12 is a side view of the cradle showing the system of hooking up of the base plate in the transportation position;

Fig. 13 is a diagram of the articulation of the draw bars on the axle;

Fig. 14 is a section, perpendicular to the axis of one of the legs of the mounting, of the device for fixing the leg in the transportation position.

In accordance with the example illustrated. the piece of ordnance is constituted by an infantry mortar of a known type (Fig. l) essentially comprising a gun-tube I, the breech head 2 of which rests in a socket 3 of a base plate 4 placed in position on the ground, and the chase of which is supported on a two-legged mounting 5 provided with mechanisms for training the gun for elevation 6 and for direction I. The twolegged stand is connected to the gun-tube through a collar 8 capable of being tightened to grip the barrel. An elastic connecting device 9 is interposed between collar 8 and the head of the mounting.

The head of breech 2 can be locked into its socket in a known manner owing to the suitable conformation of the head and of the socket in such a manner that the assembly of said two com ponents constitutes a. sort of bayonet joint.

In the transportation position (Figs. 2 and 5 to 7), barrel I rests in an X shaped cradle it the two lower branches H of which are fixed to axle I2, supported on wheels l2a. The upper branches [3 of the X, pointing towards the rear, serve as a support for base plate 4, the third supporting point for which is constituted by the breech head 2 locked into its socket 3. Barrel is fixed to its cradle In by means of a collar I 4 pivoting about hinges l5 and fitted with an operating handle l6 which serves at the same time to lock it in the closed position due to the fact that its appendage I1 then enters into engagement with a catch I8 of the cradle (Fig. 12) while its end [9 clips into a spring 20 fixed to said cradle (Fig. 6

On collar [4 is articulated one of the ends of a hook 2| loaded by a spring 22 which comes into engagement with plate 4 with a view to keeping it pressed against branches l3 of the X as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 12. Tension is imparted to the spring by means of a handle 22:; articulated on the one hand on hook 2i and on the other hand on rod 22b terminated by a piston head 22c compressing the spring in cylinder 2201 (Fig. 12).

At the rear, breech 23 of the gun abuts against raised edge 24 of cradle N! (Fig. 12).

The front end of gun I engages with a collar 25 integral with the two draw bars 26 articulated on bearings 2'! machined in one piece with sleeves 28 keyed onto the axle (Figs. 5 and 8). At its front end, collar 25 is provided with a back-plate 29 (Fig. 9) against which. bears a spring 30 the other end of which a muzzle-cover 3| fitted with an elastic packing 32, made of rubber for instance, against the end of barrel 1 which is thus prevented from moving forward. Collar 25 is provided with a draft eye 32a (Fig. 5).

The inner surface of cradle 10 and that of collar I4 which come into contact with barrel l and its breech 23 are preferably fitted with elastic liners intended to damp the jolts of the gun during transportation. In the present example, said liners are constituted by rubber strips 33 embedded in dovetailed grooves recessed in cradle 10 and collar I4 (Figs. 8 and 12).

The rear end of each drawbar 25 is held in engagement in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 12 by a pawl 34 kept in engagement with a lug 35 of drawbars 26 by means of a springstud 36. Pawl 34 is providedwith an operating handle 31 making it possible to disengage lug 35 and to drop draw-bars 26 in order to place the materiel in the firing position (Fig. 1).

- During transportation, each leg 5 of the mounting is secured by a clamping collar 38 to a support 38a (Figs. 8, 10, 11 and 14) pivoting about a spindle 38b parallel with axle l2 and carried on a link 39 articulated at 48 on an arm 4| journaled on the mounting. Link 39 is held stationary in the transportation position (Figs. 10 and 11) by a bolt 42 articulated at 43 on arm 4| and provided with a lug 44 which comes into engagement with a notch 45 of the link (Fig. 10).

Tool chests 46 can be secured to draw-bars 26.

Anchorage collars 38 of legs 5 pivot about hinges 4! (Fig. 14) and are locked by means of levers 48 articulated at 49 and provided with hooks 50 coming into engagement with a lug 5i integral with parts 38a, A flat spring 52 secured to collar 38 serves to lock lever 48 in the closed position. Movable collar 38 and the portion of part 380. which conforms to the shape of lower portion 5 are lined with elastic packings 53.

In order to change over from the transportation position (Fig. 5) to the firing position (Fig. 1), collar I4 is opened, thus at the same time releasing base plate 4 from hook 2|. Link is unbolted by actuating bolt 42. The weapon is then raised by grasping it by the base plate. and breech 23 is disengaged from the cradle at the same time as collar 25 is slipped off the front end of barrel I. The whole of gun I and of part 4 are then swung to the rear and positioned on the ground. The draw-bars 26 can be left lying on the ground (Fig. 1) if the tractor has been uncoupled. Cradle Ill likewise rests on the ground. The operation is of course facilitated if the tractor is uncoupled after tilting the gun and the plate backwards. The barrel can then be withdrawn from collar 25. The gun crew can easily carry out the loading of projectiles into the muzzle of the gun. the weapon being quite clear of the wheels (Fig. 1).

Changing back into the transportation position is very rapidly carried out by reversing the above procedure since the two-legged stand remains attached to link 39.

Collars 38 on link 39 can also be loosened and the gun completely separated from its transportation device as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Finally. itwould be possible to put the gun into action on its wheels by not unbolting the link.

The hauling stress is transmitted to the axle exclusively through draw-bars 2B and not through aces-pee the piece of ordnance itself as in previous forms of construction.

The weapon, therefore, is not subjected to any dangerous stresses, in particular when the direc tion is altered.

It is to be understood that the invention has been illustrated and described only as an example and that various modifications might be made in it without exceeding the scope of said invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-

1. A piece of ordnance comprising a firing section including a barrel having a breech head, a platform connected to the barrel and to be laid on the ground for supporting said breech head when in firingposition, and mounting legs pivot ally connected to the barrel for supporting the forward part of the barrel while in firing position; and a transport section including a cradle for supporting the rear end of the barrel when in transport position, a front end member for supporting the front end of the barrel when in transport position, an axle and wheels connected to the cradle for rolling transport thereof, draft means connecting the front end member with the axle for transmitting transport draft stresses independently of the barrel, arms connected to and extending from theaxle, links pivoted to the arms, releasable devices pivotally carried by the links for engaging the mounting legs in either the transport or firing position, said links each being movable about its pivot into a folded-down position along the corresponding arm during transport and the links during their movement being effective to guide the barrel and mounting legs in swinging movements for bringing the barrel into engagement with the cradle, and locking means effective when the parts are in transport position for holding the barrel in said cradle and front end member and for holding the links and arms for transport.

2. A piece of ordnance comprising a firing section including a barrel having a breech head, a 4

platform pivotally connected to the barrel and to be laid on the ground for supporting said breech head when in firing position, and mounting legs connected to the barrel for supporting the for-' ward part of the barrel while in firing position; and a. transport section including a cradle for supporting the rear end of the barrel when in transport position, a front end member for supporting the front end of the barrel when in transport position, an axle and wheels connected to the cradle for rolling transport thereof, arms pivoted on and extending away from the axle, draft means connecting the front end member with the arms for transmitting draft stresses independently of the barrel, the cradle being rockable about the wheel axis independently of the draft means, links pivoted to the arms, releasable collars pivotally carried by the links for engaging the mounting legs in either the transport or firing position, said links being rockable about their pivots from extended firing positions into foldeddown positions along the corresponding arms during transport and during their said rocking movement being effective through the collars and mounting legs to guide the barrel into engagement with the cradle, and locking means effective when the parts are in transport position for holding the barrel in said cradle and front end mem-' her and for holding the legs and links to the said arms.

'3. A piece of ordnance comprising a firing sec tion including a barrel having a breech head, a platform connected to the barrel for iipportin the breech head when in firing position, and mountin legs pivotally connected to the barrel for supporting the same when in firing position; and a transport section including a cradle for supporting the rear end of the barrel when in transport position, a front end member for supporting the muzzle of the barrel, an axle and wheels for rolling transport of the cradle, draft means connecting the front end member with the axle for transmitting draft efforts independently of the barrel, and means pivoted to the transport section and connected to the leg for controlling the firing section in swinging movement of its parts from transport position into firing position and being effective to guide the barrel into engagement with-the cradle; said cradle in cluding a raised edge for engaging the breech end or the barrel to prevent rearward axial movement thereof, said front end member including a muzzle collar for surrounding the muzzle, a muzzle cover, and a spring for holding the muzzle cover engaged with the muzzle; and locking means on the transport section for holding the barrel with its muzzle engaged with the muzzle cover and its breech engaged with said raised edge while in transport position.

4. A piece of ordnance comprising a firing section including a barrel having a breech head, a platform connected to the barrel, for supporting the breech head in firing position and rockable about a socket connection with the breech head, and mounting legs connected to the barrel for supporting the forward part of the barrel when in firing position; and a transport section including an X-shaped cradle, an axle and wheels, means pivotally connecting two adjacent ends of the X-shaped cradle to the axle, means at the other ends of the X-shaped cradle for supporting the platform in transport position, said cradle also including means for engaging and supporting the barrel in transport position, a front and member for supporting the muzzle of the barrel in transport position, draft bars'conne'cted to the front end member for transmitting draft efforts to the axle independently of the barrel, and pivoted linkage devices connected to the cradle and to the legs, for controlling swinging movements of parts of the firing section between the firing and the transport positions for facilitating rapid transitions therebetween and thereby effective to guide the barrel into the said engaging end supporting means on the cradle.

5. A piece of ordnance as in claim 4, in which the barrel-supporting means on the cradle includes a collar having an openable portion by which the barrel may be locked in transport position or released for movement into the firing position, and a spring hook connected to the collar and adapted to engage the platform when in transport position to hold it upon the said two adjacent ends of the cradle.

6. A piece of ordnance comprising a firing section including a barrel having a breech head, a platform connected to the barrel and to be laid on the ground for supporting said breech head when in firing position, mounting legs pivotally connected to the barrel for supporting the forward part of the barrel While in firing position; and a transport section having means including a cradle for supporting the barrel when in transport position, an axle and wheel connected to the cradle for rolling transport thereof, draft means for transmitting draft stresses independently of the barrel including a draft bar and a part pivoted to the draft bar and rockable about the axle axis, arms connected to said part and extending radially from the axle, links pivoted to the arms, devices pivotally carried by the links for engaging the mounting legs, said links being movable about their pivots into a folded-down position along the corresponding arm during transport and thereby guiding the barrel into the barrel-supporting means on the cradle, and looking means effective when the parts are in transport position for holding the draft bar and said part against relative motion and for holding the links to the said arms.

7. A piece of ordnance comprising a firing section including a barrel having a breech head, a platform for supporting the breech head in firing position and having a socket connection engaging the breech head, and mounting legs pivotally connected to the barrel for supporting the forward part of the barrel when in firing position;

and a transport section including an X-shaped cradle, an axle and wheels, means pivotally connecting two adjacent ends of the X-shaped cradle to the axle, means at the other ends of the X-shaped cradle for supporting the platform in transport position, said cradle also including means having yieldable packing; for supporting and maintaining the barrel in transport position, a front end member for supporting the muzzle of the barrel in transport position, draft bars connected to the front end member and axle for transmitting draft efforts to the axle independently of the barrel, and pivoted linkage devices connected to the cradle and to the legs for controlling swinging movements of the firing section between the firing and the transport positions for facilitating rapid transitions therebetween and for guiding the barrel into engagement with the said packings.

EDGAR WILLIAM BRANDT. 

